Vernonia-Banks ½ Marathon and Marathon
Hi, Barry here.
On April 15, 2012 the Oregon Road Runners Club presented this year’s editions of the annual Banks-Vernonia ½ Marathon and Marathon races. Vernonia is about 20 miles north of Banks, at the other end of the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail. The races did one circuit around Vernonia Lake, and then headed out onto the Trail. The Marathon finished on the track at Banks High School. The Half finished at the Tophill Trailhead, about 8 miles south of Vernonia where the Trail crosses Highway 47.
The ½ Marathon was “walker friendly”, with an early start for walkers and slow runners, one hour ahead of the main field and a maximum time of 4 hours. Lately I’ve been hiking about 13 miles most Saturday mornings, including some steep hills in Stub Stewart State Park; it takes me between 4 and 4½ hours., So I gave the Half a try, hoping to do it in 3:30 or better. I felt good enough at the 10 Mile mark that I was able to jog the last 3 miles, and finished in 2:53:13.
Ruairí snapped this photo of me with 50 yards to go. The morning started out dry but cool, so since I was walking most of the way I wore lightweight long pants and a windbreaker (both bought at the Columbia Employee Store; thanks Thadd):
Beth took this one of myself and Ruairí at the finish, with my well-deserved banana:
Next on tap is the Helvetia Half Marathon on June 9. I already have my number for the Portland Marathon on October 7, another “walker friendly” race. Hopefully I’ll eventually be able to jog more than 3 miles at a time. Jogging uses some different muscles than just walking though, and Sunday afternoon and Monday I was pretty sore.